Roman Republic: L. Titurius L. f. Sabinus, AR Denarius, 89 BC, Sear 289, Cr344/1a, Syd 698

Roman Republic: L. Titurius L. f. Sabinus, AR Denarius, 89 BC, Sear 289, Cr344/1a, Syd 698 (3.96 g)

The Sabines were the women of the Sabine people. As the legend goes, at the foundation of Rome, Romulus tried to negotiate with the Sabine people so that the Roman men could marry Sabines in order to start their families. The Sabine men refused and, at a pretext festival, the Romans abducted the Sabines women and repelled the Sabines men. After several confrontations, the two finally decide to ally and allow the Sabines women to marry Romans.

To symbolize that their first brides did not come willingly, later Roman men carried their brides into their new homes: a tradition continued in the Western countries today.


Obverse: Bare head of King Tatius right, bearded; SABIN behind, TA before

Reverse: Two Roman soldiers standing facing, looking one another, each carrying a Sabine woman in his arms. Moneyer mark in exergue.L•TITVRI (Lucius Titurius)

 

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Great example.

Mine, with "hoard" patina.


L. Titurius L.f. Sabinus. (89 B.C.)
AR Denarius
O: Bare head of King Tatius right, SABIN downward behind, TA in monogram before;
R: Two Roman soldiers running left, each bearing a Sabine woman in his arms, L·TITVRI in ex.
Rome
19mm
3.87g
Crawford 344/1a,RSC I Tituria 2, Sydenham 698a, SRCV I 249


L. Titurius L.f. Sabinus. (89 B.C.)
AR Denarius
O: Bareheaded, bearded head of King Tatius right; SABIN downward behind; palm frond below chin.
R: Tarpeia facing, buried to her waist in shields, with raised hands she tries to thrust off two soldiers who are about to cast their shields at her; star in crescent above; L•TITVRI in exergue.
Rome Mint
3.75g
19mm
Crawford 344/2b; Sydenham 699

 

Beautiful example, @Amit Vyas ...

Roman Republic Social War Issues

I have a couple Denarii:


RR L TITURIUS LF SABINUS AR Denarius Rape of Sabines 89 BCE Sear 249
Craw 344-1a



RR Titurius Sabinus 89 BCE AR Den Tarpeia buried shields S 251
Craw 344-2a

 

A wonderful example, @Alegrandon. I think this is the only well-done Roman Republican coin with an interesting reverse that I've declined to buy when I've had the opportunity, and probably would never buy, solely because of the story depicted. Especially given the name usually given to the story for many centuries, as in the numerous paintings of the subject. I simply can't do it. But that's just my own personal choice, and I can still admire other people's examples. Besides, my opting-out leaves more for everyone else!

 

I more than understand. I raised 6 daughters to be strong, independent, educated. Lots of tough stories throughout Human History. Sometimes very tough for me to discuss this story.

 

Denarius of L. Titurius L.F. Sabinus 89 BC Obv Bare head of King Tatius right. Rv. Two men each carrying a woman advancing left. Crawford 344/1c 4.30 grms 18 mm

 

WoWiE your OP coin has one of the best reverses I've seen and a great portrait ta boot!
Here's my example of Roman's fetching their wives. Crazy how little has changed in over a couple millenia:

 

Great addition @Amit Vyas !

I have only one L. Titurius L.f. Sabinus denarius. Mine depicts the death of Tarpeia on its reverse.

RR Crawford 344/2c

 

An issue where the reverse matters more than obverse and where its especially nice when the obverse actors facial expressions are clear

 

Mine are "budget" examples, the Sabine Women with some banker's marks:


Roman Republic Denarius
L Titurius L.f. Sabinus
(89 B.C.)
Rome Mint
Head of Taitus right, SABIN behind, [palm below chin] / two Roman soldiers, each w. woman in his arms (Rape of Sabine women), [L.TITVRI] in exergue.
Tituria 2; Crawford 344/1b.
(3.66 grams / 20 mm)


This one with Tarpeia is the A.PV variant:



Roman Republic - Denarius
L Titurius L.f. Sabinus
(89 B.C.)
Rome Mint
Head of Tatius rt., palm below chin; SABIN behind, A.PV before / [L T]ITVRI in exergue, Tarpeia buried to her waist in shields, fending off two soldiers about to throw shields on her.
Tituria 5; Crawford 344/2c.
(3.30 grams / 18 mm)

 

A very nice example, @Amit Vyas ...here's the third coin in this set - which has not made an appearance yet.
L. Titurius L.f. Sabinus, 89 BC, AR Denarius
Obv: Bare head of Tatius right
Rev: Victory in biga right; holding reins in left hand and wreath in right; below L. TITVRI, in exergue VI (control mark)
Ref: Crawford 344/3; Tituria 6
Note: victory a reference to Roman success in the second year of the Social War

 

@DonnaML, thanks for the valued, and very resonant contextualization regarding what you collect, and what you'd rather not.
...As a mainly-medievals guy, I collect pretty eclectically through the 13th century. (Conspicuously including Islamic coins, especially from Andalusia and the (mostly Ayyubid) Middle East.) But from the 14th century, especially in western Europe, the combined milieu starts to get depressing. You end up with the convergence of the Black Death and the Hundred Years' War. During even the early phases of which, the English practiced the sort of total war which was already familiar (burn, pillage, repeat), but on what was, as of the prior several centuries, an effectively unprecedented scale. ...That's when I have to start thinking of how the 30 Years' War was a dress rehearsal for World War One ...and so forth.
...In other words, from here, I can experience a lot of the 13th century (...with prominent exceptions) from a safe emotional distance. Later than that, the rules start to change.

 

Amit, that's a very attractive Roman Republican coin! I especially like the stern portrait of Tatius.

So far, I have not added an example to my collection. As Donna and others have stated, it's not the most sympathetic reverse, thus it's not high on my list. I have the other two types in this series, though:


Roman Republic, moneyer: L. Titurius L. f. Sabinus, AR denarius, 89 BC, Rome mint. Obv: SABIN APV; head of king Titus Tatius r., branch before. Rev: L. TITVRI; Tarpeia seated, arms raised, being crushed with shields by two soldiers; above, star in crescent. 18mm, 3.78g. Ref: RRC 344/2c.


Roman Republic, moneyer: L. Titurius L. f. Sabinus, AR denarius, 89 BC, Rome mint. Obv: SABIN; head of king Titus Tatius r.. Rev: L. TITVRI; Victory in biga r., holding reins in l. hand and wreath in r. hand; in exergue, control-mark (branch). 18mm, 3.84g. Ref: RRC 344/3.